need reassurance about my anxiety!

Aug 28, 2008

hi dr horwath!..i recently developed an hiv phobia i guess you can say. i dont know where it came from but its giving me such bad anxiety. i do not do drugs nor have unprotected sex but yet still feel that it can happen through normal everyday occurences.(when i know it cant) for instance i was in the city one night out and felt a sharp poke in my arm. i started freaking out thinking someone crazy pricked me. i know this shouldnt be a reason to be concerned but isnt it better to be safe then sorry? or do u just think its my paranoia kicking in. im actually really concerned about it but wouldnt i have seen a dot of blood or my arm would have at least hurt or something? i might be acting totally irrational to most people but im really nervous and would like to hear what u think. everyone keeps saying that if in any way i got "poked" or "pricked" i would definitely know, not just think i did..anyway thank you for all your hard work!

This forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not rendering medical, mental health, legal or other professional advice or services. If you have or suspect you may have a medical, mental health, legal or other problem that requires advice, consult your own caregiver, attorney or other qualified professional.

Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any advertiser is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 750 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.